New child care program receives grant plus support


Kayla Bartlett poses with her children.

WHITINGHAM-​ Gunner’s Playground Home Childcare received a $10,000 Make Way for Kids Grant plus technical assistance for opening and maintaining a new child care program.  
Gunner’sPlayground is excited to offer six spaces of full-time child care for local families. Kayla Bartlett, owner and operator of Gunner’s Playground, hopes to officially open its doors at the end of March. Make Way for Kids grants are funded by Let’s Grow Kids and the Vermont Department of Children and Families Child Development Division.
The program provides grants and technical assistance to support new early childhood programs and early childhood program expansion.
Vermont has a child care crisis. According to Let’s Grow Kids’ 2020 ​“Stalled at the Start” report​, 62% (three out of five) infants likely to need care don’t have access to any regulated child care programs and 78% don’t have access to high-quality programs.
Southern Vermont is a child care desert.  Finding reliable child care is challenging for local families.  Though Gunner’s Playground currently only has six spaces available, that is six fewer families struggling.
For more information visit ​letsgrowkids.org​. Gunner’s Playground Home Childcare is located at 5825 Route 100, Whitingham. For more information on Gunner’s Playground call (802) 733-7133 or visit the Facebook page at Gunner’s Playground Home Childcare LLC.

The Deerfield Valley News

797 VT Route 100 North
Wilmington, VT 05363

Phone: 802-464-3388
Fax: 802-464-7255

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